Daylight sun illuminated cross and tower



Aug 14, 1951 B. G; GoBLE 2,564,0l

DAYLIGHT SUN ILLUMINATED CROSS AND TOWER Filed Jan. 31, 1946 INVENTOR jmricazz@ @MLQ Patented Aug. 14, 1951 NT OFFICE DAYLIGHT SUN ILLUMINATEDCROSS AND TOWER Bert G. Goble, Tulsa, Okla.

Application January 31, 1946, Serial No. 644,543

This invention relates to daylight sun illuminated cross and churchtower, but may be used for other things such as memorial for soldiers,and the cross may be placed out on mountainside or top to be seen fromcities or by passersby. When the sun shines on this cross it reflectsand gives the elect of large diamonds reflecting light.

The cross may be made up of truncated spheres or the like silvered onthe inside of glass as a mirror, or may be metal with a reflectingsurface of the desired curved surface to reflect sun or artificial lightto the direction desired, and an object of the invention is theharnessing up of this reected light to follow one looking to differ entpositions or angles from the cross. Also a new and novel tower isprovided for the support lof the cross or crosses, with a symmetricalgradual tapered top with no noticeable olsets visible and which taperedtop seems like part of the tower and gives the appearance of all beingbuilt to support the cross on its top.

The main object of this invention is to create a new style church towerrunning its pilaster columns clear to the top of the square or Octagonwithout being tied together with a belt course, and making a top tyinginto and a part of the tops of said pilasters without the noticeableoffsets in all old style architecture which architects have tried toeliminate the last thousand years, and this symmetrical tapered top isfinished with a cross that the sun illuminates in daytime and can beilluminated by night by floodlighting. The four main piers or pilastersare distinctly separated in appearance their full lengths, especially attheir tops where it has been customary to tie them together by a beltcourse. My design intentionally does just the opposite, separating thesecolumns by setting the windows and their turnaways back from the face ofthe columns with no noticeable offsets on tapered top of pinnacles,accomplishing the idea lacking in all other towers.

One of the main objects of this invention is to form the top of a churchtower that does not have noticeable oiset but gradually tapers off to apeak.

Another object of this invention is to form the top of a church tower orother tower that blends into and onto the top of the main pilastercolumns and seems part of them or with a similarity, giving theappearance of tying them all into one unit.

Another object of this invention is to make a church tower with manypoints pointing upward in the general direction of the cross on its topand 2 Claims. (Cl. 2li-L) 2 emphasizing the Gothic architecture by manyvertical lines and few horizontal lines.

Another object of this invention is to build a church tower lackingcarving but carrying dignity in its design and the general appearance ofbeing all built to support a cross.

Another object of this invention is to make the top of a church towerwith seven tiers of pinnacles representing the seven days of the week,the seventh being the Lords day on which the cross is placed.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists ingeneral of certain new and novel ideas and details of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is the top portion of a church tower constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged View of part of the cross on top of tower.

Figure 3 is a section of one of the truncated spheres of the cross takenat line A-A in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View taken at line B B in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of truncated spheres making up the crossin Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a side view of one of the pliable washers placed over the,pipe and between the truncated spheres.

Figure 7 is the edge view of washer shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is side View of a reflector of a different shape.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the manner of mountinga sphere of a cross on a support.

Figure l0 is a side view of Figure 9 showing portion of the center ofthe reflector concaved to cause a, different result in reflecting tothat of the sphere shaped reflector and fastened to a flat surface. v

Figure 1l is a sectional view on line lC-C of Figure l, showing one sideof the tower.

Figure l2 shows one of the several pinnacles l, 8, S etc. on a largerscale.

Figure 13 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line l3-l 3 ofFigure 12.

Referring to the drawing of the invention more in detail.

Figure l shows elevation of upper portion of a church tower with itspilaster columns I and shows their return corners Z and the dark glasstrim 3 that is extended outward and the recess in the windows and theirtrim and the return on the pilaster are for the purpose of pulling outthe pilaster columns their full length for appearance. The recessedwindows in the recesses '2B of the pilaster columns comprising a towerbody formation are purposely not tied together with a belt at their topsat 5. Above the pedestal is recessed back considerably from the face ofpinnacles 'i terminating in pyramidions. These pinnacles 'l are thetopping 01T of the pilaster columns and the starting of a group ofpyramidions so placed that they eliminate the fault of the largenoticeable oifsets as the tower is tapered off. This is a thing thatarchitects have tried to do for the last thousands years. The otherthing this design accomplishes is that it ties the whole tapered topcomprising a surmounting tower zone into the main structure by makingeach upper tier of pinnacles a little smaller than the ones just underthem, but preferably makes all of the same general design, but of thesani@ general design as tops of pilaster columns, and 8, 9, Eil, II, I2and |3 are all evenly spaced to make an even taper in appearance asshown by line I, and each of the pyramidions is smaller nearing the top.On the extreme top of pinnacles is placed a cross I4 and on the lowerportion of the symmetrical tapered top there are three crosses I5,symbols oi the Trinity. All crosses are illuminated in daylight when thesun shines on them and give the resemblance` of large diamonds. Thesecrosses are illuminated at night by floodlights I5 which may be easilygotten to by doors Il' opening inward. Obviously the upper tiers ofpinnacles are supported on suitable offset portionsof the tower but thepyramidion top portions of successively reduced size serve effectivelyto conceal and disguise such offsetting.

The upper cross I4 may be illuminated at night by floodlights i and maybe serviced through doors I9. The pilaster columns I aretapered at eachoutside edge and returned at 2 to cause a J recess at 2i! to make eachcolumn stand out as an individual unit and not tied together at the topwith the usual belt. This is done to clearly bring out each as a columnits full length. lThe tower is built its full length to seem as onecomplete unit all tied together for on@ purpose, to support the cross ontop with dignity and reverence with its many points pointing upwardstoward Heaven.

One form of constructing the cross I4 is as shown in Figure 2; anupright pipe 2| and the arms extending out about horizontally asindicated at 22 and threaded at 23. The reectors as shown at 24 and 25etc. are made of truncated .sphere-shaped hollow glass and their insidesurfaces silvered like a mirror to reilect the sun. The curve allowsthese flashes 25-A of sunbeam to hash in many directions. The sunbeamshit the reilectors and cast flashes in the directions of 26, 2l and 28equally beautifully,

ure 6 and Figure '7 has an extension 33 to keep the reector fromtouching the pipe 2| and 22 to keep 24 and 25 from breaking byvibration, and also as seal so the ventilation may be governed throughthe pipes 2| and 22 through holes 34 in the pipe into the reflectors andby desired size hole in caps at 35 and other inlets held to equalizetemperature inside to that outside and eliminate sweating.

Figure 3 shows a section view of one of the reilectors taken at lineA-A. 36 shows the glass thickness and shape and 3l is a section of thepipe. 38 is silvering and its protector on inside of the truncatedsphere reector.

Figure 4 shows one end 0i a reflector 32 and a section of the pipe thereflector slips over.

Figure 5 shows an enlarged side view of a truncated sphere reector andFigure 'l shows an edge view of the rubber washer 3| placed between thereilectors to protect them from breakage and to seal the ends of thereectors. The extensions 33 keep the glass from touching the pipes 2|and 22 eliminates breaking as well as making the connections air tightand air circulation through the reiiectors regulated by holes in pipes34 and 35 and holes in reflectors at 39 for moisture change anddraining. Figure 6 is just a side view of washers as in Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows an end view of a reilector, the shape of which may bedesirable where the cross is located in certain locations relative tothe altitude of surrounding country to that of the altitude of thelocation of the cross, and also where it is desirable to get effect ofthe reflection of the sun where the cross is between eyes looking at thesun rays in the general direction of the sun arrows SS-A and arereflected to refiect sun on opposite side from the sun as indicated at40. The radial point in making curve is longer radius as at 4I and theshorter radius at 42 on ends same as the whole reector used in cross inFigure 2.

Figure 9, the reflector 43 is about a half of the truncated sphere inFigure 5 and as indicated at 43 used on crosses or the like and may beused on a flat support as at 44 and may be fastened by means of screw 45and may be preferable in the three crosses I5.

Figure l0 shows a reflector 46 with a reverse curve as at 41 which maybe desirable in some situations but serves to reflect sun or articialrays oi light to certain locations relative to the reector.

Figure 1l shows a cross section of small portion of the main tower atline C-C in Figure l, and shows the desired deep recess on each edge ofthe pilaster columns I at 20 where the relief structure or window trimare set back and the return 2 on pilaster column serves as bringing outthe pilaster columns boldly, and the windows and trim 48 are dark andbring out the light colored long columns their full length.

The reflected sun rays off of the cross I4 cover quite a territory, sunrays coming in at directions as at 49 and leaving the reflector as at 50and 5|, and at night when the crosses are illuminated by iloodlights I6and I8 the flash covers a variety of angles also. The cross I4iloodlighted by lights I8 by rays indicated at |3--A, and crosses I5 atthe bottom oodlighted by lights I6 and as indicated by rays I E-A.

Figure 12 is an enlarged elevation of one of the pinnacles l, 8, 9, etc.The face A-I is a broad View and its corners Z-A are returned on 45-degree angle. The tops of portion of 2-A are cut at a steep angle to apoint at 2-B to give a pointed Gothic appearance. The fiat face A-I isstopped on the horizontal at 56 for contrast, and the plain relief arrowpointed relief posts 53 run quite a distance below the top 56 on theflat surface at 53--A and also quite a distance above and pointed at53-B to give a very pointed Gothic effect to the completed pinnacle, andthe many points pointing toward Heaven is symbolic of the One now inglory who once hung on the cross, and the completed tower of manypinnacles points Heavenward and general direction of the cross andlattice strips 54 are supporting the pointed relief posts 53 at quite alittle off the horizontal as a relief work and to support and emphasizethe sharp pointed relief posts 53. All this is to work together tocomplete a symmetrical tapered tower to a peak to support the cross I4.

at line I3-l 3. The Steeple 6I, or the four pointed at line B-I3. Thesteeplo 6 I, or the four pointed portions of the pinnacles has a squarebase 62 and taper to a point 63.

The thing new and novel in the combination of pinnacles 8 to I3 and 6Iand shown in detail in Figure 12 is the distance is greater from thefaces 64 to E34-A than it is from face 65 to face 65-A and allows spaceto use post 66 back of the pointed part of `Z-A, which makes a wellplanned place to stop the lattice 54 and I5 above the horizontal line56. This allows a support for ends of lattice 54 and these lattices givethe effect of strengthening the pointed relief post 53 and contrast forthe many vertical lines.

The main idea of the seven tiers of pinnacles to taper top of tower isto avoid irregularity in olfsets and finish the tower to a point withthe different top points and point of one relief post of each pinnacleabout touching the line 61. As shown 68, 69 and IIJ and all other pointson the outside of the different pinnacles that are placed on the fourcorners about touching the line 61 and thus overcoming the obstacle thathas confronted architects for years. This specially designed pinnacleovercomes difficulty of objectionable offsets of church tops and makes abeautiful top that looks as if made for the purpose of supporting thecross, and persons seeing any portion of this tower from a distance fromtop to bottom it immediately causes person seeing it to know they arelooking at part of a church tower. Eliminating noticeable offsets inchurch towers may be accomplished by other style pinnacles or ornamentsby setting the outside of upper tier overlapping the inside part oflower tier.

The idea of daylight illumination by sun rays or at night by full moonor by artificial light may also be used for signs to be seen at a longdistance. The sun ray reflection differs to that of any artificial lightrays as the rays of artificial rays waste and soon dim out, but sun raystravelling millions of miles before reaching reflector may be reflectedby mirror reflectors a great distance through darkness and arepractically as bright at a great distance as close up. So the sunlightreflections may be seen at long distances.

It is strictly understood that changes may be made within the scope ofthe drawing and claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What I claim as new and novel is:

1. In architectural tower structures adapted for use with edificespurposed for religious activities, a tower body formation of generallyrectangular shape in plan View, a surmounting assemblage rising from thebody portion and comprising a plurality of individual pinnacles eachterminating in a pyramidion with the pinnacles arranged in a rising stepformation on each side, and with the vertices of the pyramidions of eachstep located successively inwardly to form a composite pyramidal.structure to thereby present a sky-line pseudo-pyramidal appearance ofthe surmounting tower assemblage and eliminate the appearance of offsetformations lying outside of the pseudo-pyramidal contour, the pinnaclesof adjacent predetermined steps varying as to number with other adjacentpredetermined steps presenting a similar number of pinnacles but variedin spacing width to thereby produce the pseudopyramidal contour, and across formation carried by and rising from the vertex of saidsurmounting assemblage.

2. An assemblage as in claim 1 characterized in that the tower body isformed of a plurality of vertically extending structural formations onpredetermined side faces of the tower, each of such faces having itsformations in side contact and with the exposed formations of a facearranged to present collectively two distinctive appearance typesarranged in alternation, each type extending continuously lengthwise ofthe tower body to thereby present a horizontal series of verticallyextending bands with adjacent contacting bands formed from differenttypes and with alternate bands formed of the same type, the pinnacles ofthe lower step of the surmounting assemblage of such face beingpositioned to surmount the bands of but one of the types to therebycontinue the spacing of the bands of the other type into suchsurmounting assemblage.

BERT G. GOBLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 411,516 Anderson Sept. 24, 18891,785,422 Klodskov Dec. 16, 1936 1,786,789 Sutphen Dec. 30, 19301,825,497 Wilfred Sept. 29, 1931 OTHER REFERENCES Handbook ofArchitecture, by Fergusson, published in London, England, in 1859, byJohn Murray (2nd edition) page 674.

Websters Collegiate Dictionary, fifth edition, copyright 1936, by G. C.Merriam Co., The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., page 755.

